AthleticsUpdate


From championships to new leadership, NGU Athletics strengthens its legacy of faith, and transformational impact.


Powell Joins Hall of Fame


NGU Baseball Coach Landon Powell cemented his legacy on the baseball diamond in May when he was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.


“I’m incredibly humbled and honored,” Powell said. “This is not something I anticipated in my life, so to be named in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame is a true honor. This is something I will cherish for a very, very long time.”


Powell has coached at NGU for 11 seasons, winning five Conference Carolinas Tournament Championships, five Regular Season Championships, one NCAA Division II National Championship, and earning eight trips to the NCAA tournament. “Coach Powell is a joy to watch at Ashmore Park and a greater joy to know outside the proverbial lines,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “He and his family are a terrific example of godly professionalism and dedication to excellence. I’m so thrilled to offer him and Allyson my heartiest congratulations!” Powell played four seasons at the University of South Carolina, finishing with a career batting average of .306 as a switch-hitting catcher, with 44 home runs, 61 doubles, and 193 RBI. The two- time team captain also earned multiple All-America selections, including his senior season when he was given five All-American nods, as well as an All-Southeastern Conference honor. A former College World Series All-Tournament team honoree and member of the CWS all-time legends team, Powell holds school records for a catcher in career putouts (1,768) and assists (190),and ranks third all-time in Gamecock history in games played (251), including 242 as a catcher. He also ranks second all-time in doubles (61), is tied for third in at bats (866), and stands fourth in both hits (265) and total bases (468), and fifth in home runs (44).


Powell was drafted in the first round, 24th overall in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland Athletics. In his major league career, Powell had 13 home runs and 59 RBI, and was known as one of the better defensive catchers. One of Powell’s career highlights came in May of 2010, where he caught Dallas Braden’s perfect game for the Athletics. Powell’s journey in the MLB, which was marked by adversity on and off the field, was captured by ESPN in an E60 documentary titled “The Backup Catcher.” The documentary details Powell’s walk through health scares and the loss of his infant daughter.


Powell was inducted into the University of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Apex High School Hall of Fame in 2020. “Landon is a Hall of Famer in every aspect,” said NGU Athletic Director Will Lowrey. “He has used his talents to get him to the highest level in professional sports, but seeing first-hand how he invests in the game and the young men he leads makes him a true difference maker.”


8 | NGU.EDU Gregory Leads Women’s Basketball


NGU welcomed Lakeisha Gregory back to Tigerville this fall to lead the women’s basketball team.


The new head coach got her start at North Greenville, where she served as an assistant for the Trailblazers for two seasons. She helped develop guards for NGU and oversaw scouting and individual workout plans.


Coaching runs in Gregory’s DNA, as


she is the daughter of Karen Kemp, who served as head coach of East Tennessee State University for 19 seasons. “Coach Gregory understands our mission at NGU and walks that out in her daily life. She’s a strong recruiter, developer of young people, and has a strong competitive spirit. Her proven ability to build a strong culture of winning with high standards makes her the perfect fit for our women’s program,” said Athletic Director Will Lowrey


Gregory returned to Tigerville from Campbell University, where she served as an assistant coach for the Camels for the past three seasons. Prior to her first stop at NGU, she was director of operations at Indiana State University.


“Being back is a dream come true,” Gregory said. “This is the place I want to be because the people here truly are special, and I am so grateful to be a part of this community. The support I have coming in as a first-year head coach is unbelievable.”


A New Giving Model


The NGU athletic program’s primary fundraising arm, The Trailblazer Club, has taken on a new format. This fall, it was announced that each of the university’s 20 NCAA Division II programs will now operate their own clubs, creating fresh opportunities for engagement and community support while streamlining the process for those seeking to give.


The Trailblazer Club was created to help support our athletic programs by raising funds for scholarships, operations, and facilities for all of NGU’s student-athletes. With this new format, members can easily select the sport that they wish to support, while also maintaining the ability to support the athletic department as a whole through the traditional Trailblazer Club.


“This opportunity represents a key step in our vision for NGU Athletics,” said Athletic Director Will Lowrey. “I am thrilled about the potential to exponentially grow our transformational resources to compete nationally while expanding our platform to glorify God.” For more information and details about each club, please visit. nguathletics.com.


Cross Country Secures Back-to-Back Conference Titles


The NGU women’s cross country team captured its second consecutive Conference Carolinas Championship in October, finishing with 49 total points in the conference event. Leading the Trailblazers was freshman Mandi Pollard, who crossed the line in third place with a time of 22:57 over the 6K course. She was followed by sophomore Ellie Timmons in seventh (23:40) and junior Riley Shope in eighth (23:46). Junior Cecily Anderton finished 15th (24:08), while junior Addison Martin rounded out NGU’s top five with a 24:18 performance. Six NGU runners earned All-Conference honors for their efforts. Pollard and Timmons were recognized on the first team, while Shope (second team), Anderton (third team), Martin (third team), and Paris Alsup (third team) also achieved selection.


Pollard’s standout debut season was further recognized as she earned the Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year award. Senior Michaela Lanier was honored with the Elite 26 Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the championship. Head coach Cameron Stober was named Coach of the Year, capping off a historic day for the program.


“I’m really proud of both teams,” said Stober. “For our women, we knew going into the season that we had a good shot at repeating as conference champs, but nothing was guaranteed. It’s not easy having the target on your back, but our ladies stayed hungry and humble all season. To be one of only two programs in NGU history to repeat as conference champions is a huge accomplishment.”


Celebrating NGU’s Pioneers of Faith, Perseverance, and Athletic Achievement


North Greenville welcomed the Athletics Hall of Fame and Hall of Legends Class of 2025 in September. Inductees included Pam Adams, Chad Poole, Tevin Richardson, and Hall of Legends honoree Bea Dillard. Pam Adams (’77) was a trailblazer in South Carolina women’s basketball in the 1970s, starting at Slater-Marietta High School then transferring to Travelers Rest High School. She graduated in 1975, gaining recognition as the Greenville News Upper South Carolina High School Female Player of the Week twice and earning Western AAA All-Conference honors. Adams continued her education and basketball career at North Greenville Junior College, graduating in 1977 with an Associate of Arts degree. She was one of the first women of color on the NGJC women’s basketball team and the first female athlete to receive an athletic scholarship. In the 1975-1976 season, the team achieved a 14-5 record, defeating larger schools and finishing seventh in the AIAW Junior College National Tournament. Adams was co-captain, named one of the Region II Top Ten Players, and received South Carolina All-State Honorable Mention. In the following season, she led the team to its best campaign in history, finishing first in South Carolina, second in the region, and third nationally. Chad Poole (’98) made a significant impact on the golf team at North Greenville, leading the team to numerous tournament victories. Chad became team captain in his sophomore year and earned All-Tournament Team honors at the NGC Spring Invitational. He was a medalist at the Cumberland College Invitational during his junior year. The team also won the conference championship that year and qualified for the NAIA Golf National Championship in 1997. Over his four years, Chad helped the team win multiple tournaments and reach the national championship. After graduating, he pursued a career as a professional golfer and joined the PGA. Chad was diagnosed with ALS at 27 and passed away in 2016 at 40. He is survived by his wife Erin and their two children, Maggie and Nicklaus. Tevin Richardson (’21) redefined speed at NGU, setting school records in both indoor and outdoor track events. A five-time All-


From left: President Fant, Nicklaus Poole, Maggie Poole, Bea Dillard, Pam Adams, Tevin Richardson, Will Lowrey


American, he won eight Conference Carolinas championships and competed in the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2018-2021. On the national stage, Richardson achieved top-five finishes in three events: fifth in the 200 meters in 2019 and third in 2021 along with a fourth-place finish in the 100 meters in 2021. He also anchored the men’s 4x100 relay to a second-place finish in Division II in 2019. Richardson holds the school records for the indoor 200 meters (21.30), and outdoor 400 meters (46.56). He shares the 4x400 (3:14 and 3:12) and outdoor 4x100 (40.40) records. Richardson has retired from professional track and works as a personal trainer and private track coach. Bea Dillard has played a crucial role for North Greenville, and for NGU Baseball. Fulfilling a vision she shared with her late husband, Ray, Bea was a lead donor in upgrading Ashmore Park with all-weather turf. The newly installed field was named Ray and Bea Dillard Field. Bea remains a steadfast supporter of NGU through various means. She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg.


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